The slow stroke back massage is
a specific nursing protocol which consists of slow, gentle,
rhythmical strokes using two hands simultaneously over the
client approximately 5 centimeter out from the spine, from
the crown of the head to the sacral area and has been used in
nursing care since the mid 1960s. Several studies have used
slow stroke back massage and have found it to be a
successful nursing intervention for promoting relaxation and
thus promoting sleep.